310 On the Varieties of Winter Greens. 



Savoy planted late in the season ; it is small, and with only 

 a little green heart, and is of little value. The Sprouts, or 

 little cabbages, are excellent for the table, after they have 

 been exposed to some frost ; they are not, however, suffi- 

 ciently hardy to bear very severe weather, and generally 

 perish before the spring : I consider them as the first to be 

 used of those plants, properly called Winter Greens. Few 

 persons possess the genuine sort of Brussells Sprouts ; my 

 plants were raised from seed sent to me by Mr. Stephen 

 Jeeves, gardener to the Honourable Thomas Brand, at 

 the Hoo, where they are are grown in the highest perfection 

 and excellence. 



The plants hitherto described are those which form cab- 

 bages with hearts, and are eaten in that state. The subjects 

 which remain to be treated of, are entirely open in their 

 crown ; but the portions of them to be used are taken from 

 the centre of the plants, and are the growth of the preced- 

 ing autumn: those plants, of which the early shoots be- 

 come greens for the table, do not afford a supply until the 

 commencement of spring ; the dependance of the gardener, 

 after his Savoys and Brussells Sprouts are consumed, or ren- 

 dered useless by frost, rests therefore entirely on the division 

 I am now going to notice, until the first influence of vegeta- 

 tion begins to operate on those plants, whose early shoots 

 are to be gathered for the table. 



The Green Borecole, which is called in the southern parts 

 of Britain the Scotch Kale, is one of the most important of 

 the whole. Though frequently seen in gardens, it is too 

 little cultivated : for it is impossible to find a plant of more 

 excellence for the table, or more easy of cultivation; and it 



